P-339: Role of at2 receptor in the protective effect of telmisartan in cardiac tissue

Blockade of the AT1 angiotensin receptor is considered an excellent therapeutic approach to treat hypertension (HT). The AT1 receptor is responsible for the majority of the known effects of AII; however, the role of AT2 receptor is less well defined. It was hypothesized that blockade of AT1 receptor increases AII levels, which in turn activates the AT2 receptor and through a kinin pathway induces cardioprotection. Ninety male Wistar rats (130 ± 30g) were used to induce an experimental model of hypertension (aortic banding) and one experimental model of chronic heart failure (aorto-caval shunt) respectively. Aorto-caval shunt is an established model of moderate high-output heart failure. Cardiac mass and plasma ANP and cardiac kininogenase activity were estimated In aortic-banding HT rats, treatment with the AT1 receptor antagonist Telmisartan not only reduce blood pressure (162 ± 5mmHg in HT vs. 110 ± 4 in HT-treated, p